The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1887-05-06

business to a. punched her, Juck.
That's going little too far. Take
your places now. and I'll see who
knows the most about the multiplied
ton Table. We can't waste our time
talking about gals.
Nothing could be more unique than
that recitation. The boys gathered
about that table, eight of them occu-
plying the stools, the rest standing until
Shanghai Bill should give the word to
change. There was always good order
in this college. Ignorant and uncouth
though the teacher was, there was yet
subtle something which compelled
obedience-a sort of irresistible mag
netism which held the unruly boys in
an iron grip.
So on this, as on every other occa-
sion, every thing went on decorously.
No vulgar or profane language was al
lowed in the college, and no tobacco,
and this school had been found a
means of grace and delverance to
many benighted newsboy. Many
were the moral lectures delivered by
the earnest president, and not one of
them ever failed to interest.
So the multiplication table passed
around from mouth to mouth, suffer-
ing good deal as it went, but show
ing an unruffled front when they were
all through with it. When the boys
enthusiasm and good-natured rivalry
had reached their height, sudden in
terruption occurred which effectually
banished the multiplication table for
that evening.
Shanghai Bills college was situated
on the fifth floor of a building once
used as brewery, but now condemned
as unsafe, and consequently abandoned
by every one but Bill, who was deter
mined to remain till he was "druy out
by the law" No such step had been
taken, and Bill remained unmolested.
The boys had been so thoroughly
engrossed by their occupation that
they had not heard the door open, nor
had they noticed that stranger had
entered the room. Short Jack was the
first one made aware of the intruder,
and this by a smart slap on his ear,
which brought him to his feet, too
much surprised to utter a word. The
president pushed, his glasses onto his
forehead, rose, and looked about him.
'That was the blackguard that
struck me this morning, an I've give
it back to him." said the newcomer,
in clear tones.
By this time the boys had recovered
from their CONSERVATION, and cries of
"Put her out! put her outr' came from
all sides.
"Shet up, will YEP" said the presi-
dent, in authoritative tones, interpos-
ing his long right arm to keep Short
Jack from returning the blow. "Hold
ON now," he continued, It'll I get at
the right of this yarn. You're the gal
that tried to get the boys honest bust
ness away from 'em, amt YEP"
"I'm the gal that's tryin' to do an
honest business for myself" replied
the stranger, folding her arms and
looking scornfully about her. There
she stood-a girl of fourteen, perhaps,
tall and slight, ragged and most in
efficiently clad, but scrupulously clean.
Her eyes were large and, in the light of
the Pickering candle, black as night
Her hair was dark and very long, APP
parently worn flowing for the sake of
the warmth it afforded Indeed, her
hair seemed the only comfortable article
of toilet.
cit amt gals work to sell papers,"
said the schoolmaster trying to boil
ster his lettering prejudices under the
fire of those flashing eyes.
''Then give me some work that is"
was the immediate response. 81 amt
particular about selling papers, but
gals have to eat as well as boys, and
gals can be cold as well as boys, too.
The fat gentleman that keeps the res
taurant down on the Row-he's the
one that set me up in business-said
that you was a good man, and so I've
come up here to have you settle it. -
This was an unlooked-for crisis, and
one for which the good president was
unprepared.
Il dunno as anybody wants to see a
gal starve," put in Short Jack, with
his hand to his smarting ear.
The young girl gave a quick glance
at the maker of the remark, and
seemed about to speak; but she folded
her arms again and looked straight at
the schoolmaster.
"What is your name?" he asked, in
tone full octave lower than that in
which he had spoken before.
Mag" she replied. There's been
folks that's called me Sassy Mag, but 1
don't allow that 'cept they're friends.
Then there's another thing, school
MASTER" she went on; 81 want you to
tell me how it is that these boys can
come here to school when there amt
no room for me.
my gentleman said they paid five
cents week. I've got twenty to pay
you a month ahead, and there it's,
advancing and placing her money on
the table. ''Now want to know why
a gals money Amt as good as boys
money"
At that moment it was quite plain
that the worthy president of this
worthy institution was in considerable
doubt as to which he was most inclined
to do-laugh or cry, AS it was, he
compromised the matter by sniff and
a chuckle which astonished the boys
quite as much as any thing that had
happened.
Twenty cents is twenty cents" he
replied, after short pause; sit don't
make no difference who it comes from;
but Amt never had no gals in my
school, and l dunno as the boys would
like it. But what do you all say? Take
this stool and set down Mao while T